Potential of Virtual Earth Observation Constellations in Archaeological Research

Area of Science:

• Earth Observation
• Archaeology
• Cultural Heritage Studies

Background:

• Earth observation sensors provide diverse datasets requiring pre- and postprocessing for calibration.
• Big data cloud platforms facilitate access to extensive satellite image datasets.
• Challenges persist in meeting specific needs for cultural heritage and archaeological research worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the harmonization and synergistic use of different Earth observation sensors.
• To introduce the concept of virtual constellations proposed by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).
• To discuss the potential of virtual constellations for archaeolandscape studies.

Main Methods:

• Overview of existing and future Earth observation sensors.
• Analysis of interoperability levels based on Wulder et al.'s framework.
• Presentation of preliminary results using integrated optical and radar Sentinel images from the Thessalian plain, Greece.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of integrated optical and radar Sentinel image analysis for a specific region.
• Preliminary findings suggest the utility of combined sensor data for archaeological research.
• The study highlights the potential of virtual constellations in enhancing Earth observation applications.

Conclusions:

• Harmonization and synergistic use of Earth observation sensors, particularly through virtual constellations, can significantly benefit scientific communities.
• Virtual constellations offer a promising framework for addressing specific challenges in cultural heritage and archaeological research.
• Further exploration of virtual constellations is recommended for advancing archaeolandscape studies and maximizing the impact of Earth observation data.